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Most Canadian Wal-Mart stores to open around the clock until Christmas Eve responding to chorus of holiday customer demands

With most Canadians not "done," last-minute shopping begins
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 11 /CNW/ - Recently named the top holiday shopping
destination of Canadians, Wal-Mart Canada today announced that it will operate
190 of its 292 stores nationwide around the clock from December 14 through
Christmas Eve, as many as 258 hours straight. This represents 80 per cent of
all Wal-Mart stores nationwide, excluding 52 ineligible stores in the province
of Quebec, due to restrictions on retail hours. Local store listings are
available at www.walmart24hours.ca.
In recent years, Wal-Mart Canada has tested 24-hour openings during busy
retail periods. This year the company announced that 80 stores would operate
continuously from December 1 through Christmas Eve. The decision to more than
double the number of stores open 24-hours, from 80 to 190, beginning this
Friday, responds to growing customer demand for more shopping hours in markets
big and small.
"When we opened select stores around the clock there was an amazing
chorus of customer demands to keep other stores open too," said Sylvain
Prud'homme, Wal-Mart Canada's senior vice president of operations. "It's
clear. Being time starved is a reality in many markets where Canadians live
and shop."
A recent Maritz Research survey of Canadian customers listed Wal-Mart as
the number-one destination for holiday shopping. Maritz noted increased
holiday store hours among "winning holiday shopping differentiators" for
retailers.
"Last-minute and busy customers traditionally spend December just trying
to find time," said Prud'homme. "Round-the-clock openings are a big invitation
for Wal-Mart customers to shop with us whenever they're ready. And, based on
the customer visits and the thanks we're already getting in the wee hours, we
think Canadians know the clock is ticking."
A recent wal-mart.ca survey asked Canadians "With less than a month until
Christmas, how much shopping do you have left?" The following responses, from
November 26 to December 10, suggest the Canadian tradition of last-minute
shopping is alive and well in 2007:
11% Complete
32% Half-way done
25% In the early stages
33% Haven't started
Wal-Mart Canada serves more than one million Canadians each day in 292
stores and six Sam's Club outlets nationwide. With more than 70,000
associates, the company is one of the nation's largest employers. The retailer
also operates one of Canada's strongest community involvement programs focused
on supporting national and local charities in every region of the country.
Customers can confirm local store participation at
www.walmart24hours.ca.

For further information:

For further information: Felicia Fefer, Wal-Mart Canada, (905) 821-2111,
x.4466, to arrange interviews with store or company representatives